Thai armed forces chief to boost Thai-Lao relations

BANGKOK, June 5 (TNA) – Royal Thai Armed Forces Supreme Commander Gen. Ruengroj Mahasaranond is paying an official visit to Laos with an aim to strengthen bilateral relations between the armed forces of the two close neighboring countries.

Speaking before his departure Monday morning, Gen. Ruengroj said there is no special issues for discussions during his trip to the neighbouring country.

A purposal of the visit is to forge closer ties between the armed forces of the two nations.

However, there may be a discussion on ways to cope with narcotics along the common border.

On a border demarcation, Gen Ruengroj conceded there remain many spots along the Thai-Lao border that have not yet been demarcated.

However, the problem has no impacts on the bilateral relations.

Actually, the Lao government wants to speed up demarcating, but has small budget to do that, he said.

Apart from strengthening the relations between the two nations' armed forces, he said, the visit would also help forged closer bilateral cooperation in economic and political affairs.

TNA